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Presidential Statements

Does the Security Council incorporate the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda in political statements?

This section monitors Security Council Presidential Statements (known as PRSTs), non-binding documents, adopted by consensus, on country situations or thematic topics. There have been 15 PRSTs on Women, Peace and Security. The Council should incorporate WPS concerns into both geographic and thematic PRSTs. Although not binding like resolutions, PRSTs have become more frequently adopted in recent years and are useful tools.

Women, Peace and Security Presidential Statements

There have been a number of presidential statements on specific aspects of the WPS Agenda. The language of most of these presidential statements acknowledges specific accomplishments of the Agenda including women’s participation and gender mainstreaming, while also recognising the areas that still need improvement. Some statements made procedural requests, while others made additions to the normative framework.

The following PRSTs on Women, Peace and Security have been adopted since the creation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000:

S/PRST/2016/9 (15 June 2016) encouraged Member States to increase their funding on women, peace and security including through more aid in conflict and post-conflict situations for programmes that further gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as through support to civil society.

S/PRST/2014/21 (28 October 2014) highlighted the importance of women’s empowerment, gender equality, and the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, as a cross-cutting subject throughout all UN thematic areas.

S/PRST/2014/21 (28 October 2014) addressed the particular needs of displaced women, highlighted the impact of violent extremism on women and welcomed the Secretary-General’s commissioning of a global study.

S/PRST/2012/23 (31 October 2012) reaffirmed Security Council's commitments to full implementation of all five resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, and emphasized the important role of civil society organizations in increasing women's participation in all peace efforts.

S/PRST/2012/3 (23 February 2012) reaffirmed the Security Council’s commitment to resolutions on Women and Peace and Security, and reiterated its intention to fight impunity and uphold accountability for serious crimes against women and girls.

S/PRST/2012/3 (23 January 2012) is on Women, Peace and Security and it stresses that sexual violence challenges sustainable peace processes. It also notes the continuing under-representation of women in formal peace processes.

S/PRST/2011/20 (28 October 2011) reiterated aspects of Resolution 1325 and welcomed the role of UN Women in the implementation of resolutions on Women, Peace and Security.

Many other thematic statements (including protection of civilians during armed conflict, peacekeeping policies, and post-conflict peacebuilding) have specifically recalled United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and/or mentioned issues pertinent to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

A sample of thematic Presidential Statements include:

S/PRST/2016/12 (28 July 2016) underscored the need to empower women through increasing representation of women at all decision-making levels at local, national, regional and international institutions and through mechanisms for the prevention and resolution of conflict and mediation.

S/PRST/2016/2 (31 March 2016) addressed an urgent need to address violence and discrimination against women and girls, including rape and other forms of sexual violence and take into account the link between women's participation in peace and security decision-making, for peace and gender equality.

S/PRST/2015/23 (25 November 2015) addressed a variety of problem faced by women in conflict settings, including the need to ensure equal protection under the law and equal access to justice for victims.

S/PRST/2015/3 (19 January 2015) recognized the continuing need to increase women’s participation and the consideration of gender-related issues in all discussions pertinent to the prevention and resolution of armed conflict, the maintenance of peace and security, and post-conflict peacebuilding

S/PRST/2014/5 (21 February 2014) reiterated Council's intention when establishing and renewing the mandates of United Nations missions to include provisions for the protection of children and on the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women in conflict and post-conflict situations.

S/PRST/2014/3 (12 February 2014) addressed the protection of civilians in armed conflict. It reaffirms the Security Council's commitment to full implementation of WPS resolutions and to give attention to the specific vulnerabilities of women in conflict.

S/PRST/2013/2 (12 February 2013) addressed the protection of civilians in armed conflict. It reaffirms the Security Council's commitment to full implementation of WPS Resolutions and urges parties to conflict to give particular attention to specific needs of women and children.

S/PRST/2012/29 (20 December 2012) addressed post Conflict Peace-building and it encourages the mobilisation of women's capacities in peace-building activities. It calls for enhanced participation of women in prevention and conflict resolution and addressing challenges to women's engagement at all levels.

S/PRST/2010/22 (26 October 2010) condemns all acts that violate international law committed against women and girls in situations of armed conflict and post-conflict situations.

Presidential statements also cover country-specific matters on the Council's agenda. Since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, references to Women, Peace and Security have been made in the PRSTs issued on a number of countries including Liberia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Kosovo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Sudan, Afghanistan, Uganda/Great Lakes, Sierra Leone, Burundi, and Chad/CAR. While some of these PRSTs are specific to Resolution 1325, others simply call for the increased participation of women in voting, or other broader recommendations. Therefore, country-specific PRSTs vary in content and in scope.

A sample of country-specific Presidential Statements include:

S/PRST/2016/5 (25 April 2016) recalled the importance of the full participation of women and civil society in the peace process (including on security arrangements), in line with the outcomes of the National Dialogue conference in Yemen.

S/PRST/2015/24 (8 December 2015) called on the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Sahel to support as a matter of priority, efforts focused at creating opportunities for youth and women.

S/PRST/2015/15 (17 August 2015) stressed that rapid progress on a political solution should include full participation by all segments of Syrian society, including women, and represents the only sustainable way to resolve the situation in Syria peacefully.

S/PRST/2015/6 (18 February 2015) called upon the Government of Burundi to ensure the full and effective participation of women at all stages of the electoral process.

S/PRST/2014/2 (23 January 2014) stressed the need to ensure the full, equal and effective participation and representation of women at all levels and at an early stage of the stabilization phase in Mali.

S/PRST/2013/19 (9 December 2013) addressed the situation in Guinea-Bissau and it urges the creation of conducive conditions to full and equal participation of women in political processes.

S/PRST/2013/17 (14 November 2013) addressed the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and it recalls its WPS resolutions and calls for strengthening of efforts to combat impunity for conflict-related sexual violence and ensure full and equal inclusion of women at all stages of conflict resolution. It also urges investigations into the November 2012 mass rapes.

S/PRST/2013/11 (25 July 2013) addressed the situation in the Great Lakes region and it commends the efforts of women civil society organisations and calls for full participation of women in conflict resolution.

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